Ways women can cut car insurance costs

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by: bythesea
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Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 Time: 10:25 PM
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If you're a woman and looking for cheap car insurance quotes, you're in luck - many companies offer fantastic car insurance policies for female motorists. This is because women drivers have been found to drive less often, take shorter trips and be involved in less serious accidents than men. So just ticking the ‘female' box on your car insurance comparison form is the first step in driving down the cost of your policy.

But besides the fact you are a woman, what else can you do to drive down the cost of your car insurance?

1. Keep your car safe and secure

Having an alarm, immobiliser or tracker professionally fitted, using steering or handbrake locks, or parking your car in the driveway or garage overnight, are all ways to cut insurance costs.

2. Consider taking public transport to work

If you use your car to commute to work, it will push up the premium. Use the car for just "social and domestic" reasons and you'll get a better deal, plus a lower annual mileage will also bring down the premium. So ditch the wheels and take the bus.

3. Less power = cheaper cover

Cars with smaller engines are cheaper to insure and run. See our list of the cheapest cars to insure.

4. Avoid modifications

Any modifications from the ‘factory fresh' version of your car, from alloy wheels to exhausts and so on, will cost you extra. Are they really worth it?

5. Up the voluntary excess

Voluntary excess is what you agree to pay in the event of a car insurance claim, on top of the compulsory excess. Raising the excess will reduce your premiums, but it does mean you will have to pay more of the costs if you have to make a claim.

6. Start building up your NCB

A No-claims bonus (NCB) is the best way to reduce your car insurance costs. If comparing quotes on Confused.com results in your changing your car insurance provider, ask about transferring your NCB to the new policy. In some cases, you can, and it can save you up to 70 per cent of the maximum premium.

7. Keep a clean driving licence

If you break traffic laws, you could incur points, a fine, a driving ban, or all three. This is why it's absolutely vital to drive safely if you want to keep insurance costs down. You can receive points for things like driving without due care and attention, driving whilst over the alcohol limit, or speeding. Read more about driving convictions.

8. Pay for car cover in one go

Paying for car insurance in monthly instalments may feel easier on your bank balance but you'll likely pay more over the course of a year. This is because many insurance providers will give you a discount if you can stump the entire year's premium in one advanced payment. Consider paying on a 0% interest credit card to lessen the blow.

9. Consider a lower level of car insurance

In the UK, the only compulsory car insurance is third party only. As such, you are not obliged to opt for more expensive levels of cover such as third party, fire and theft and comprehensive. However, it's vital that you understand the difference between the three levels of cover before choosing, as third-party cover could leave you with a large bill to pay if your car is written off, even if it's not your fault. Controversially though, opting for the lowest level of cover may not always save you money.

10. Add an experienced driver

While additional drivers will generally drive up the cost of your car insurance, in some cases adding a more experienced driver with a healthy NCB and clean licence can actually reduce the price of your premium.

About the Author

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